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both Take flight or e'er the cheeks with down are covered。
One； while he prattles still； observes the fasts； Who； when his tongue is
loosed； forthwith devours Whatever food under whatever moon；
Another； while he prattles； loves and listens Unto his mother； who
when speech is perfect Forthwith desires to see her in her grave。
Even thus is swarthy made the skin so white In its first aspect of the
daughter fair Of him who brings the morn； and leaves the night。
Thou； that it may not be a marvel to thee； Think that on earth there is
no one who governs； Whence goes astray the human family。
Ere January be unwintered wholly By the centesimal on earth
neglected； Shall these supernal circles roar so loud
The tempest that has been so long awaited Shall whirl the poops about
where are the prows； So that the fleet shall run its course direct；
And the true fruit shall follow on the flower。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XXVIII
After the truth against the present life Of miserable mortals was
unfolded By her who doth imparadise my mind；
As in a looking…glass a taper's flame He sees who from behind is
lighted by it； Before he has it in his sight or thought；
And turns him round to see if so the glass Tell him the truth； and sees
that it accords Therewith as doth a music with its metre；
In similar wise my memory recollecteth That I did； looking into those
fair eyes； Of which Love made the springes to ensnare me。
And as I turned me round； and mine were touched By that which is
apparent in that volume； Whenever on its gyre we gaze intent；
A point beheld I； that was raying out Light so acute； the sight which it
enkindles Must close perforce before such great acuteness。
And whatsoever star seems smallest here Would seem to be a moon； if
placed beside it。 As one star with another star is placed。
Perhaps at such a distance as appears A halo cincturing the light that
paints it； When densest is the vapour that sustains it；
Thus distant round the point a circle of fire So swiftly whirled； that it
would have surpassed Whatever motion soonest girds the world；
And this was by another circumcinct； That by a third； the third then by
a fourth； By a fifth the fourth； and then by a sixth the fifth；
The seventh followed thereupon in width So ample now； that Juno's
messenger Entire would be too narrow to contain it。
Even so the eighth and ninth； and every one More slowly moved；
according as it was In number distant farther from the first。
And that one had its flame most crystalline From which less distant
was the stainless spark； I think because more with its truth imbued。
My Lady； who in my anxiety Beheld me much perplexed； said： 〃From
that point Dependent is the heaven and nature all。
Behold that circle most conjoined to it； And know thou； that its motion
is so swift Through burning love whereby it is spurred on。〃
And I to her： 〃If the world were arranged In the order which I see in
yonder wheels； What's set before me would have satisfied me；
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But in the world of sense we can perceive That evermore the circles
are diviner As they are from the centre more remote
Wherefore if my desire is to be ended In this miraculous and angelic
temple； That has for confines only love and light；
To hear behoves me still how the example And the exemplar go not in
one fashion； Since for myself in vain I contemplate it。〃
〃If thine own fingers unto such a knot Be insufficient； it is no great
wonder； So hard hath it become for want of trying。〃
My Lady thus； then said she： 〃Do thou take What I shall tell thee； if
thou wouldst be sated； And exercise on that thy subtlety。
The circles corporal are wide and narrow According to the more or
less of virtue Which is distributed through all their parts。
The greater goodness works the greater weal； The greater weal the
greater body holds； If perfect equally are all its parts。
Therefore this one which sweeps along with it The universe sublime；
doth correspond Unto the circle which most loves and knows。
On which account； if thou unto the virtue Apply thy measure； not to
the appearance Of substances that unto thee seem round；
Thou wilt behold a marvellous agreement； Of more to greater； and of
less to smaller； In every heaven； with its Intelligence。〃
Even as remaineth splendid and serene The hemisphere of air； when
Boreas Is blowing from that cheek where he is mildest；
Because is purified and resolved the rack That erst disturbed it； till the
welkin laughs With all the beauties of its pageantry；
Thus did I likewise； after that my Lady Had me provided with her
clear response； And like a star in heaven the truth was seen。
And soon as to a stop her words had come； Not otherwise does iron
scintillate When molten； than those circles scintillated。
Their coruscation all the sparks repeated； And they so many were； their
number makes More millions than the doubling of the chess。
I heard them sing hosanna choir by choir To the fixed point which
holds them at the 'Ubi；' And ever will； where they have ever been。
And she； who saw the dubious meditations Within my mind； 〃The
primal circles；〃 said； 〃Have shown thee Seraphim and Cherubim。
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Thus rapidly they follow their own bonds； To be as like the point as
most they can； And can as far as they are high in vision。
Those other Loves； that round about them go； Thrones of the
countenance divine are called； Because they terminate the primal Triad。
And thou shouldst know that they all have delight As much as their
own vision penetrates The Truth； in which all intellect finds rest。
From this it may be seen how blessedness Is founded in the faculty
which sees； And not in that which loves； and follows next；
And of this seeing merit is the measure； Which is brought forth by
grace； and by good will； Thus on from grade to grade doth it proceed。
The second Triad； which is germinating In such wise in this
sempiternal spring； That no nocturnal Aries despoils；
Perpetually hosanna warbles forth With threefold melody； that sounds
in three Orders of joy； with which it is intrined。
The three Divine are in this hierarchy； First the Dominions； and the
Virtues next； And the third order is that of the Powers。
Then in the dances twain penultimate The Principalities and
Archangels wheel； The last is wholly of angelic sports。
These orders upward all of them are gazing； And downward so prevail；
that unto God They all attracted are and all attract。
And Dionysius with so great desire To contemplate these Orders set
himself； He named them and distinguished them as I do。
But Gregory afterwards dissented from him； Wherefore； as soon as he
unclosed his eyes Within this heaven； he at himself did smile。
And if so much of secret truth a mortal Proffered on earth； I would not
have thee marvel； For he who saw it here revealed it to him；
With much more of the truth about these circles。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XXIX
At what time both the children of Latona； Surmounted by the Ram
and by the Scales； Together make a zone of the horizon；
As long as from the time the zenith holds them In equipoise； till from
that girdle both Changing their hemisphere disturb the balance；
So long； her face depicted with a smile； Did Beatrice keep silence
while she gazed Fixedly at the point which had o'ercome me。
Then she began： 〃I say； and I ask not What thou dost wish to hear； for I
have seen it Where centres every When and every 'Ubi。'
Not to acquire some good unto himself； Which is imp